Japanese ferry operator Shin Nihonkai Ferry (SNF) has agreed new Lifecycle Agreements covering two of its owned vessels, incorporating data-driven predictive maintenance to optimise efficiency.
The deal is designed to provide operational support and maximise performance efficiency for the ferries, which serve the Yokosuka and Shinmoji route. Each vessel has four Wärtsilä 31 engines installed.
“It is very important that we operate according to the schedules and without delays, so being sure that the ships are in prime operating condition is essential,” said Hisao Shimizu, General Manager, Marine Management, Shin Nihonkai Ferry.
“The two Wärtsilä agreements will give us this assurance and allow us to confidently concentrate on serving our customers in an optimal and most efficient way.”
The two five-year agreements cover the Hamayu and Soleil ferries and include remote support from Wärtsilä Expertise Centres in case intervention is required.
Asset diagnostics and anomaly detection will be delivered via Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight predictive maintenance service, used to proactively identify and highlight potential failures and early indications of equipment deterioration that cause vessels to run less efficiently.
“If a vessel is well maintained, it not only allows it to operate reliably, therefore minimising delays and cancellations for passengers, it also saves fuel and generates less emissions,” said Henrik Wilhelms, Director, Agreement Sales, Wärtsilä Marine.
“After all, key maintenance practices have a surprisingly big impact on the vessel’s efficiency and with data we can optimise and improve these even further. We are delighted to expand our long-standing partnership with SNF by supporting them with our Lifecycle Agreement for these two ferries and to help them improve the ships efficiency and reliability.”
